PATTAYA, Thailand – On Wednesday, 7 May, Brian Ramsden, the General Manager for Foreign Affairs with Lawyers for Expats Thailand, delivered an enlightening presentation to the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC). This was followed with Club Member Dawne Fowler sharing her experience in visiting an orphan school in northwest Thailand.
First up was Brian who has a background as a former property developer. He shared his personal experiences and the challenges he faced, which ultimately led him to begin a law firm specializing in assisting foreigners with property investments in Thailand.
His journey began in Koh Samui, where he encountered significant financial losses due to inadequate legal protection. This experience motivated him to thoroughly research property laws. The firm, starting locally has now expanded to cover all of Thailand.
Brian discussed common practices for foreign land property investment in Thailand. He highlighted the risks associated with these methods, particularly the use of nominees as company shareholders. Although illegal, until recently the government has not been enforcing the law in this area. However, Department of Special Investigations (DSI), has recently increased scrutiny on these practices; primarily leading to repercussions for law and accounting firms setting them up and using their staff as the nominee shareholders.
He shared real-life examples of clients who have suffered due to improper legal arrangements, emphasizing the importance of having proper legal documentation in place. To address these challenges, his firm has developed legal solutions that comply with Thai law regarding for real property ownership.
In the case of leasehold, the Thailand Supreme Court has ruled that including an automatic 30 year renewal is invalid. However, a Memorandum of Agreement that outlines the terms of the property transaction and includes an agreement to renew the lease is valid. Also important is to have property under a Thai spouse’s name included in their Will. To prevent the will from being subsequently changed by the spouse, he noted his firm prepares the Will using 3 originals, one kept by the foreigner, one by the spouse, and the third locked in their vault. Further, it requires all 3 originals be changed in order for the change to be valid.
Following Brian’s address, Dawne Fowler, a dedicated freelance missionary in Thailand, shed light on the harrowing conditions faced by residents in a boarding school for orphaned and displaced children and youth in northwest Thailand. Dawne, who works independently and collaborates with various organizations, shared her firsthand experiences and the urgent need for support.
Dawne began by introducing herself and her mission to assist the poorest communities in Thailand. She painted a vivid picture of the situation that has left many children orphaned or seeking refuge in Thailand. These children find solace in centers like the ones Dawne visited, where they strive to rebuild their lives.
During her visit to a center housing 200 children, Dawne observed their living conditions and educational opportunities. Despite the challenges, the children displayed remarkable resilience and gratitude, showcasing a strong desire to learn and support one another. Dawne emphasized the importance of funding for educational resources, including computers and supplies, to help these children thrive.
The presentation concluded with Dawne expressing her unwavering commitment to helping these children and urging others to contribute to their well-being through donations or volunteer efforts. In addition to computers other welcome items are clothes, household goods, office supplies, and office equipment. Dawne said the items can be delivered to the Mercy Centre in Pattaya or she can collect it at a PCEC meeting. The Mercy center is located at Duck Square near Big C South car park. You can email them at [email protected] or telephone them at 099-052-2288 for directions.
After the presentations, MC Ren Lexander brought everyone up to date on upcoming PCEC events and conducted the Open Forum where the audience may ask questions or make comments about Expat living in Thailand, especially Pattaya.
For more information about the PCEC and their meeting location, visit their website at https://pcec.club. To view a video of the presentation, visit the PCEC’s YouTube Channel – for Brian’s presentation visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FZy0ACa0vI and for Dawne’s presentation visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66mcPQ1-w5k.
